State deadline looms for Medicaid recipients to enroll in new Heritage Health program

December 1, 2016, is the deadline to enroll in Nebraska’s new health care delivery effort, Heritage Health.

Physical and behavioral health as well as pharmacy programs will be combined into a single system for Medicaid recipients, including those in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Rocky Thompson is a deputy director of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care.

He says there are three plan choices: Nebraska Total Care, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Nebraska, and WellCare of Nebraska.

“Some of the networks might differ, depending upon the plan, but we anticipate that all three plans will have the majority of providers in the state of Nebraska,” Thompson tells Nebraska Radio Network. “There’s different rewards programs for each plan. Some plans might offer cribs for babies or diapers.”

More than 234,000 packets of information were sent out to individuals and families to help them make a choice.

“After December 1, auto-assignment begins,” Thompson explains. “Then members have 90 days to change plans after January 1, 2017. Once they receive cards, some members might decide to change plans, because their primary care physician might not be in a network, and they have that opportunity to do so.”

Enrollment began slowly, but Thompson says there has been more activity as the deadline approaches.

“We have seen enrollment pick up over the past couple of weeks. It’s still not the entire Medicaid member pool,” he says. “I anticipate that we’ll have a greater number by December 1st.”

A helpline is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 888-255-2605, and interpretation services are available to callers. Individuals can choose their plan online, by phone or by mail.